14mo still catnapping

Hi everyone,
As the title suggests my 14mo ds still catnaps. He has 2x 30 min sleeps a day. He's always catnapped from day 1. Around 10/11 months he increased to an hr per nap now we are back at 30 mins on the dot. I know he is still tired coz if I pick him up he falls asleep if I gently rock him. He falls asleep alone in cot tho and self settles & mostly sleeps 10 hrs straight a night so I know he knows how to fall asleep and how to self settle.

I don't know what to do. He is so tired after a 30 min nap. I've tried patting, shushing, cuddle then down again, letting him cry a little bit. Nothing works.

I feel like I'm failing as a mother. Everyone keeps telling me he'll grow out of it, once he walks hell be more tired (well no coz he walks now and no diff) wear him out at park (I do and no diff)

He will never just fall asleep whn he's tired, pram car ect. Nope.

I want to return to work part time but can't due to fear that hell sleep no time at daycare and he so miserable all day. I'd feel like I was tourchering him if he had no naps at all. Plus he wakes all night if he's had zero day naps. He will only sleep in his cot, complete darkness & no sound. None. If I talk on phone he wakes up, if I quietly open fridge he's awake.

I just don't know what to do anymore.
No point to this post. Just frustrated I guess.

The Following User Says Thank You to MinnieMouse81 For This Useful Post:

What time are the 2 naps? My DS only slept really well during the day when we swapped to one lunchtime sleep.

He normally naps at around 8.30/9am then 1.30pm.

I've tried to move to one nap but by 9.30 he is just exhausted & clings onto me and whinges and whines & is just generally unhappy. He will go to sleep within 15 mins of being out down so I know he's tired, it's just staying asleep past 30 mins.

I'm a bit late on this post but have you thought about going in just before the 30 mins is up and gently patting him back to sleep? Are you giving the same 'it's sleep time' message during the day and night? Have you tried white noise in his room? I use it for my son and its worked wonders. Drowns out all the clanging, voices and my 3.5 yr olds constant running, etc. He's probably waking from noise because he hasn't reached the deeper sleep.

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